How to spot a CHEATER: Scientists pinpoint 4 red flags,
From Bill Clinton to Tiger Woods, many celebrities have been caught up in famous cheating scandals.
But is there any way to spot a cheater before they stray?
According to scientists from Koç University in Istanbul, there are four red flags that indicate someone is likely to cheat.
In their study, the team surveyed 280 people about their relationships, and whether they had any intentions of infidelity.
The results revealed that people were more likely to cheat if they had a history of cheating on a prior romantic partner.
Their chances of an affair were also higher if one of their parents had had one in the past.
What’s more, high levels of attachment avoidance and low levels of perceived emotional and sexual intimacy were red flags for cheating.
‘These findings shed light on the importance of addressing parental infidelity, adult attachment avoidance, and intimacy problems in couples therapy, given the risk of engaging in infidelity,’ the researchers wrote in their study.
Infidelity is common in the UK, with a whopping 36 per cent of Brits admitting to cheating on a partner in a survey conducted in 2024.
However, the underlying reasons for cheating have remained a mystery until now.
Writing in their study, published in The Family Journal, the researchers, Esra Selalmaz and Gizem Erdem, said: ‘Given the prevalence and negative consequences of infidelity, there is a need for further research to explore factors that are linked to infidelity.’
To get to the bottom of it, the team enlisted 280 participants aged 18–30, who were unmarried, childless, and in an ongoing romantic relationship for at least a year.
The participants were surveyed about their family history, relationship style, and any intentions to cheat.
An analysis of the results revealed four key trends.
Firstly, participants whose own parents had had affairs were more likely to cheat themselves.
‘Individuals may adopt their parents’ passive–aggressive behaviors as a protection for the future of their romantic relationship, and avoid showing sincere emotions, especially negative ones, in their romantic relationships,’ the researchers explained.
‘This may provide them a sense of control over feelings of resentment, disappointment, and rejection.
‘However, those strategies may result in feeling less lovable and satisfied in their relationship as they do not show their true selves and emotions to their partners, which may increase their intentions to validate their self–worth outside of their current romantic relationships.’
Secondly, participants who had previously cheated in a relationship were also more likely to do it again.
‘The history of cheating in past romantic relationships had the strongest association with infidelity intentions,’ the researchers added.
High attachment avoidance – a low tolerance for emotional or physical intimacy – was also linked with infidelity intentions.
The researchers explained: ‘The likelihood of infidelity might function as a deactivating strategy for individuals with high attachment avoidance.
‘Given that they prioritize being self–dependent with limited intimacy, infidelity may be a way to feel independent while in a committed romantic relationship.’
Finally, people with low levels of emotional and sexual intimacy were also more likely to cheat.
‘Those who lack sexual intimacy and satisfaction in their committed relationships may be prone to infidelity to meet their unmet sexual needs and seek sexual closeness through an affair,’ the team explained.
Overall, the researchers hope these results will help couples to establish more trusting relationships.
‘The findings of the present study may provide insights for couples and family therapists to tailor their sessions to reduce the couples’ infidelity risk or support individuals and couples who come to therapy because of the harmful effects of infidelity and search for meaning in this process,’ they concluded.
